Skullcandy Smokin' Buds True Wireless Earbuds: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-19

Summary

Skullcandy’s Smokin’ Buds are budget true wireless earbuds at $22.99 MSRP with 20 hours of total battery, IPX4 sweat resistance and three EQ modes. The recurring owner complaints are finicky touch controls, charging failures and pairing inconsistencies. There are no replaceable parts or consumables. At $20-25 the value proposition is reasonable for gym and casual use; above $30, competitors with app support and more reliable touch controls become available.

Common problems and fixes

Touch controls are finicky — PCMag found them inconsistently responsive in testing, and owners call them hit-and-miss. The touch-response areas require precision. No fix beyond careful tapping; there is no app to adjust sensitivity. [3][7]
Charging failures — a Best Buy owner reported the left bud stopped working about eight months after purchase and would not power on or charge. Reddit owners report a left bud that stopped charging unless twisted into a specific position. No fix reported. [7][8]
Pairing issues — Reddit owners report constant pairing issues and inconsistent volumes. No fix reported. [7]
One bud louder than the other — Reddit owners report one bud louder than the other. Cleaning the mesh over the speaker was mentioned as a possible fix. [7]
No app support — there is no companion app, so no firmware updates, no adjustable touch controls and no way to tweak the EQ beyond the three presets. [3][4][5]

Parts and consumables

Ear gels (S/M/L) — included in the box. No confirmation that replacement ear gels are sold separately by Skullcandy. [1]

Yearly running cost

There are no filters, pods or subscriptions. The only possible recurring outlay is replacement ear gels if they wear out, but no price or replacement interval is in the sources. Not enough data for a precise yearly cost.

When it is a good buy

Price thresholds: at $22.99 MSRP, the stated battery life, IPX4 rating and EQ modes are reasonable value for gym and casual use. Above $30, competitors with app support, more reliable touch controls and better microphone performance become available. The owner complaints about fit and touch controls are consistent enough to be a caution signal. Named alternatives: at similar prices, competitors with app support and more reliable touch controls become available above $30. [1][3][4][5]